In October, INMD Staff and the Institute Advisory Board (IAB) were treated to beautiful views of the autumn colours on the Queen’s University campus and Kingston Harbour during our semi-annual IAB meeting. The meeting began with a Meet & Greet and Poster Session in the New Medical Building. We were impressed with the qual-ity of research presented by graduate students at Queen’s, and delighted that so many of the faculty were able to attend. I wish to thank Drs. Steven Liss, VP-Research at Queens, John Fisher, CIHR University Delegate, and James Brien, CIHR Governing Council member, for joining us at the Meet & Greet and for extending such a warm welcome to our IAB.

We were honoured to welcome Dr. Robert Goldstein, Senior Scientific Advisor for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, as a meeting observer. We were also pleased to invite Dr. Malcolm King, Scientific Director of the Institute of Aboriginal People’s Health, to speak about the Pathways to Health Equity for Aboriginal Peoples Signature Initiative, to which INMD has committed to be a partner. The relevance of this research funding initiative was underscored by an excellent lectureship entitled, Access to kidney transplantation for Aboriginal People with end-stage kidney disease that was presented by Dr. Karen Yeates.

During the IAB meeting, the IAB had the oppor-tunity to discuss numerous important topics including the implementation, performance measurement, and evaluation of INMD strategic priorities. We were treated to a lectureship by Dr. William Paterson, who gave an inspiring

presentation entitled, Reflux esophagitis and neuromuscular dysfunction: the long and short of it. IAB members were greeted

by Dr. Richard Reznick, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University and CEO of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization, and enjoyed a tour of the New Medical Building, including a view of state-of-the-art medical simulation clinics.

Best wishes for the autumn season,

Philip M. Sherman, MD, FRCPC

INMD ConnectionsHelping you make connections and stay connected

A Newsletter from the CIHR Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes Vol. 12, No. 11 - November 2012

Message from Philip Sherman, INMD Scientific Director

Philip M. Sherman, MD, FRCPC Scientific Director

Mary-Jo Makarchuk, MHSc, RD Assistant Director - Toronto

Vera Ndaba Business Officer & Event Planner

Keeley Rose, MSc, PhD Project Manager

Denise Haggerty Administrative Assistant

Paul Bélanger, BScN Assistant Director - Ottawa

Kimberly Banks Hart Associate, Strategic Initiatives

Mélanie Bergeron Project Officer

CONTACT USThis is a pre-announcement regarding the launch of Environ-ments, Genes and Chronic Disease (EGCD) Catalyst Grants. These grants aim to build on research opportunities identified at the Environments, Genes and Chronic Disease National Workshop held in February 2012.

These Catalyst Grants are supported by INMD, in partnership with the Institutes of Aboriginal People’s Health, Cancer Research, Gender and Health, Genetics, Infection and Immunity, Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis, and Population and Public Health.

The Catalyst Grants, of $100K for one year to each successful applicant, will provide up to $1.1M to assist researchers in developing new research activities, such as feasibility studies and multi-disciplinary collabora-tions, which relate to advancing knowledge in the field of environment-gene interactions in chronic disease.

The Environments, Genes and Chronic Disease Catalyst Grant funding opportunity will be posted on the CIHR website in December 2012. For more information on this RFA, please contact Keeley Rose, INMD Project Manager.

Pre-launch Announcement of Catalyst Grants for Environments, Genes and Chronic Disease

From left: Drs. Phil Sherman, James Brien, StephanieAtkinson, and Steven Liss

From left: Drs. William Paterson, Stephanie Atkinson and Robert Goldstein

The Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (INMD) supports research to enhance health in relation to diet, digestion, excretion, and metabolism; and to ad-dress causes, prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, support systems, and palliation for a wide range of conditions and problems associated with hormone, digestive system, kidney, and liver function.

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Siham Yasari, CIHR Communications and Public Outreach Branch

Many researchers are keen to share their research findings with the public and see the value of media relations. Much of the value of the media lies in their independence. Reporters have the freedom to identify and report news anywhere, anytime, and on any topic. How should you respond when contacted by the media? We recommend that you first call your institutional and/or CIHR media relations specialist, who then can provide advice and act as an intermediary by calling the reporter and finding out more about the story.

In working with you, here is a preview of what a media relations person is most likely to suggest:

• Understand the media. They are in the entertainment and news business, not research, and often are looking for the human interest angle to your research.

• Think like a reporter: a news story is the opposite of a scientific article, starting with the conclusion, and written to be understood by someone without a science background. Keep your story simple to ensure that what you say is published with the least distortion.

• Researchers usually do not get to edit the news story, so it is a good idea to prepare for an interview by asking the reporter for questions they will ask you and then drafting some sample answers and key messages. Such an approach serves to focus your responses and to ensure accuracy.

• You can also recommend reporters interview other experts who you know will provide reliable information.

These tips scratch the surface of the complex interactions between the research community and the mass media. For additional advice and suggestions, please view the CIHR website.

Dr. Jamal is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and Director of the Multidisciplinary Osteoporosis Research Program at Women’s College Hospital. She is an Endocrinologist and clinician-scientist who specializes in the treatment of osteoporosis. Sophie completed Endocrinology training at the Univ. Toronto and a fellowship

and PhD in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at University California-San Francisco. Her major research interests include identifying novel treatments for osteoporosis, determining the effects of kidney disease on bone, and defining the relationship between osteoporosis and vascular calcification. Dr. Jamal was honoured by receipt of this year’s Young Investigator Award from her peers in the Canadian Society of Endocrinology & Metabolism, and presented an outstanding seminar on her work recently published in JAMA. Congratulations Sophie!

RESEARCHER PROFILESophie A. Jamal, MD, PhDCSEM 2012 Young Investigator Award

A Tribute to Professor George Beaton, PhD, OCBy Dr. Stan Zlotkin, MD, PhD, FRCPC, OC, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto

Dr. George Beaton passed away peacefully in his 83rd year on Monday October 8th, 2012. During his 39 years as a Professor of Nutrition at Univ. Toronto, and indeed after his ‘retirement’ George contributed as an intellect, a teacher, and a spokesperson for the Canadian nutrition community. Dr. Beaton was internationally recognized for his impressive level of scientific achievement in both the theoretical and applied aspects of human nutrition. His academic career was devoted to the derivation and application of nutrient requirement estimates for both populations and individuals.

He was a nutritional epidemiologist before the term nutritional epidemiology was even coined! Dr. Beaton’s concepts formed the theoretical basis for the development of the Dietary Reference Intakes in Canada and the United States, which are now used in interpreting dietary intake survey data and in setting dietary guidelines for populations.For his many invaluable contributions, Professor Beaton was inducted as an Officer in the Order of Canada in 2009. His contributions have been meaningful and long-lasting; truly, his was a life well lived.

Media Interactions: the How and the Why

Pre-Announcement: INMD Funding OpportunitiesStay-tuned for more information on the following INMD Funding Opportunities:• Planning Grants (expected launch November 2012)• Dissemination Events (expected launch November 2012)• Operating Grant Priority Announcements (expected launch in December

2012)• Bariatric Care (Bridge Funding)• INMD Start Up Funds (Assistant Professors, Clinicians, and New

Investigators)• Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (Bridge Funding)

CIHR Science Policy FellowshipsThe fourth launch of the Science Policy Fellowships program offers a new series of policy assignments hosted by Health Canada and PHAC. This program supports researchers from all areas of health to spend six months in a policy setting; providing policy makers with access to scientific evidence to inform policy and giving researchers the opportunity to learn firsthand about the policy development process.